Reviving the Little South Branch

Mar 10, 2026

Project Highlights

Project Type

In-Stream Habitat Improvement & Erosion Control

River Miles to be Restored

5 Miles Total (Five Sites Per Year for Five Years)

Location of Project

Little South Branch of the Pere Marquette River
(Newaygo County)

Wildlife to be Benefited

Birds (waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, marsh birds), reptiles (snakes, turtles, five-lined skink), amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders), mammals (muskrat, beaver, river otter, mink), Brown Trout, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Spotted Turtle, semi-aquatic reptiles and amphibians, and cold-water aquatic macroinvertebrates

Little South Branch of the Pere Marquette (In-Stream Habitat Improvement)

Project Overview

The Little South Branch of the Pere Marquette River is known for its cold, clear water and exceptional fisheries. But like many Northern Michigan rivers, sections of the stream have lost the natural features that once supported healthy habitat for fish and wildlife. To help restore this important tributary to the Pere Marquette River mainstem, dedicated private donors and CRA launched the Little South Branch Pere Marquette River Habitat Improvement Project — a multi-year effort focused on strengthening river health through strategic in-stream habitat improvements.

Work began in summer 2025 and will continue over the next four years, with crews installing large wood along a five-mile stretch of river between Forman Road and James Road. These installations mimic natural log jams and fallen trees that historically shaped the river’s flow, stabilized banks, and created critical habitat for fish and wildlife.

A man stands on the snowy bank of the Little South Branch of the Pere Marquette River, observing logs placed by Conservation Resource Alliance to create fish habitat.

CRA Project Manager Nate Winkler stands on large wood installed last summer to stabilize the riverbank and improve habitat.

Aerial view of a riverbank with large woody debris placed along the shoreline by Conservation Resource Alliance to stabilize erosion and improve fish and wildlife habitat.

Large wood with attached rootwads line the eroding riverbank.

Large wood stabilizes a river bend along the Little South Branch of the Pere Marquette River.

A 2024 evaluation found this section of river lacks in-stream large wood — an essential component of healthy stream ecosystems in forested landscapes. Without it, streambanks become unstable and excess sediment enters the channel. By carefully placing whole trees, including rootwads and tops, along eroding banks, the project will slow water velocity, reduce erosion, and restore natural river function. Beyond stabilizing banks, added wood provides cover and resting areas for trout, improves spawning habitat, enhances overwinter survival, and supports aquatic insects that form the foundation of the river’s food web. The work also creates habitat for turtles, birds, and other wildlife that depend on healthy riparian ecosystems.

CRA works closely with local landowners and partners to design each installation, ensuring restoration efforts protect sensitive areas while maintaining recreational access. By using natural materials sourced on-site, the project strengthens long-term ecosystem resilience and supports a healthier, more dynamic river system for the region.

This project is ongoing. Stay tuned to CRA’s social media channels and this project page for updates as restoration work continues.

Pre-project aerial view of a winding forested river reach that will receive large woody debris to improve habitat and stabilize banks.

Large wood installations began in summer 2025 and continued in 2026, improving instream habitat along the Little South Branch of the Pere Marquette River. Additional restoration work is anticipated in 2027

Fall 2026 Project Update

Restoration efforts on the Little South Branch of the Pere Marquette River continue to make meaningful progress! During the summers of 2025 and 2026, CRA and its partners installed approximately 200 white pine and white oak trees along 1,300 feet of river, creating complex large wood structures designed to improve fish habitat and support the river’s long-term ecological health.

In September 2026, CRA crews also conducted fish surveys at two locations along the river to help evaluate how these habitat improvements may influence fish populations over time. Initial survey results are expected in early 2027.

With 19 private landowners participating in the project and approximately 8,000 additional feet of potential restoration identified, CRA is preparing for the next phase of large wood installation. Additional work is anticipated during winter 2026–2027, with restoration continuing throughout 2027 as funding allows.

The project continues to benefit from strong support from local landowners, community organizations, and conservation partners working together to restore this important coldwater stream.

**Projects like this are not possible without the help of our funders and partners. We’d like to send a special thank you to:**